Peggy Nichols will remember her tenth birthday for ever.

Celebrations and parties were almost unheard of for the youngster, born in 1935, who had little memory of anything other than the daily trials of living through the Second World War.

Peggy and older brother David were instructed by their parents – arable and dairy farmers Thomas and Margaret White, who lived in Thurlaston, Leicestershire – to sleep downstairs each night, under a table in the dining room. This was out of fear the house might collapse as German bombers heading for nearby Coventry tore overhead.

And so the young schoolgirl – who carried her gas mask to class each day in a hessian bag – was not planning anything special for her milestone birthday on May 8, 1945.

That all changed mere hours before she was officially due to turn ten.

‘It was May 7 and a late news flash confirmed Germany’s surrender. The war was ending, and the next day was to be declared a national holiday – a national holiday for my birthday,’ Peggy smiled as she recalled the occasion to The Mail on Sunday this week.

‘The next day – my birthday – we were all summoned to my grandfather’s house nearby.

‘At 3pm we sat around the radio in silence to listen to Sir Winston Churchill. We weren’t allowed to even murmur – if the King or the Prime Minister spoke, you didn’t.

Ahead of her 90th birthday, Peggy Nichols has been speaking of her memory of VE Day

Ahead of her 90th birthday, Peggy Nichols has been speaking of her memory of VE Day

Peggy Nichols pictured at age 10, the year that World War II ended

Peggy Nichols pictured at age 10, the year that World War II ended

Peggy said on her tenth birthday her family were all summoned to her grandfather¿s house nearby.

Peggy said on her tenth birthday her family were all summoned to her grandfather’s house nearby.

‘Then the Prime Minister announced the war had ended in Europe. We had peace at last.

‘All the schools were to close for a day. We rejoiced with lots of tea and cakes. I can still see the joy on everyone’s faces.’

She added: ‘I think it was just a relief for everybody because it had been a scary time. I think I was concealed from what was actually happening by my parents, but they must have been just as scared as everybody else.’

Villagers in Thurlaston then did what so many had been prevented from doing for so long – they partied. ‘The village erupted,’ Peggy said. ‘There was relief everywhere, and much happiness. Everyone was singing and dancing; we had a lot to chatter about. Looking back on it now, it was just a wonderful memory.

‘Everybody was elated. It was the best birthday I could have wished for.’

Peggy went on to marry Ray and raise their three children, Janet, Christine and Graham, in a small village near Warwick where they have lived ever since.

Now a grandmother to four, Peggy is excited to spend her 90th birthday on Thursday at the VE Day 80 celebration of music, dance and stories at the Royal Albert Hall in London, sponsored by the Daily Mail. Hosts will include the singers Katherine Jenkins and Myleene Klass.

Now a grandmother to four, Peggy is excited to spend her 90th birthday on Thursday at the VE Day 80 celebration at the Royal Albert Hall

Now a grandmother to four, Peggy is excited to spend her 90th birthday on Thursday at the VE Day 80 celebration at the Royal Albert Hall

Peggy pictured age 4 with her brother Dave

Peggy pictured age 4 with her brother Dave

Peggy pictured with her brother Dave at on a tractor at age 14

Peggy pictured with her brother Dave at on a tractor at age 14

Peggy dressed for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937

Peggy dressed for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937

Peggy attending the VE concert with her daughters could be the 'highlight of her life'

 Peggy attending the VE concert with her daughters could be the ‘highlight of her life’

‘I think this could be the highlight of my life,’ Peggy said. ‘It will be lovely to hear the wartime stories, to listen to the music of Dame Vera Lynn – she could really sing. And to be there with my daughters will be very special.’

Peggy has also been invited to attend a special service with the King and Queen at Westminster Abbey earlier that day.

‘I’ve always been a Christian and I love church services, and I think this one will be extra special for me,’ she said.

‘I love the Royal Family. I just admire them. I always collected all their photographs out of the paper when I was a child and I always read about everything they do – it’s the first thing I look for in the paper each day.’

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